The latest installment in the Disney & Pixar animated film series "Toy Story," "Toy Story 5" (directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris), will be released in Japan on July 3rd. Prior to its US release on June 19th, the film's world premiere was held at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 9th (local time).
The venue was decorated to make it feel like stepping into the world of toys, and amidst the excitement of the large crowd of fans, the legendary voice actors and staff of "Toy Story" were in attendance, including Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, who has voiced Woody since the first film, Tim Allen, the original voice of Buzz Lightyear, Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios, which has produced numerous global hits including the "Toy Story" series, and composer Randy Newman, who has created the music that graces all the films in the series, including the famous song "You've Got a Friend in Me." Furthermore, global pop star Taylor Swift, who sings the new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" written specifically for this film, made a surprise appearance, bringing the excitement to its peak.
◇"I've been watching it since the first one, so this feels like a dream," she exclaimed, overflowing with joy.
Actress Alice Hirose appeared on the red carpet from Japan. It was also announced that Hirose has been chosen as the Japanese voice actress for the new character, the latest tablet, "LilyPad," which will be appearing in this film.
Hirose was in the audience, which was filled with cheering fans, when she witnessed the world premiere of the film. She excitedly said, "I'm still so excited...! I've been watching it since I was little, so I shed a few tears (while watching the movie). There was applause and laughter, and I felt an energy that I don't usually get to feel. Just when it ended and everyone was saying, 'That was great!', the curtain rose, Taylor Swift performed a song with her guitar, and Randy from 'You've Got a Friend in Me' gave a surprise live performance, it was an incredible surprise!"
Hirose plays Lily Pad, a cutting-edge tablet character who comes into the life of the shy girl Bonnie. It's a challenging role requiring a variety of vocal tones and complex emotions. Hirose's charm lies in her strong will and determination to act out of concern for Bonnie, and her ability to portray the duality of the character—who, because she wishes for Bonnie's happiness, believes that Bonnie should grow up and become more independent from toys so as not to be left behind, becoming the "biggest rival" to Jessie (the cowgirl doll) and others—was highly praised, leading to her passing the audition at the US headquarters.
Upon being chosen as a voice actress, Hirose expressed her overwhelming joy, saying, "When I found out that I would be able to participate in a work that is loved all over the world, I was honestly incredibly happy. I've been watching it since I was little, since the first one, so it feels like a dream." Regarding the appeal of LilyPad, Hirose revealed, "It's a cutting-edge tablet of the modern era, so it can do all sorts of things. As seen in the trailer, it pretends not to listen but actually hears everything, and it can even speak Spanish. It's a different character from toys of the past, and I think that's what's so appealing about it. I also found it interesting to play a character that is unique to a tablet."
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Toy Story" in Japan, and it has been enjoyed by many people, from children to adults. Hirose, who is one of them, shared her memories, saying, "When I was little, there was a rule that I absolutely had to go to bed by a certain time, but when 'Toy Story' was on TV at night, my parents would always let me watch it. My parents were pretty lenient when it came to 'Toy Story' (laughs). I think they loved it too, so they wanted to pass that on to me."
Regarding the latest installment in the series, he highlighted its appeal, saying, "There are parts where the toys we've known until now clash with the cutting-edge tablet, but there are also a lot of modern interactions that we haven't seen before, so I hope you'll enjoy that. Also, Jessie is very brave and cool, and I think there are many moments that will bring a tear to the eye, especially for those who have seen the previous films. I think 'Toy Story 5' is something that everyone can enjoy, whether you're seeing it for the first time or have seen the previous films."
Reflecting on the voice recording process, Hirose said, "Voice acting is really hard work, so I took my time and recorded carefully, and I was quite excited listening to Jessie and Woody's voices before they were finished through headphones. I felt like everyone was talking to me while I was recording." It seems she enjoyed the recording process despite the difficulties.
Regarding Hirose's performance, a representative from the US headquarters commented, "Lilly Pad is a character who sometimes goes off the rails but is actually kind at heart. Alice deeply understood the character throughout the film, and brilliantly portrayed not only Lilly Pad's rivalry and approachability but also her sensitivity. I think she played Lilly Pad, who shows a variety of expressions, in a very charming way. I am confident that the charm of Lilly Pad, who sometimes goes off the rails but is actually kind at heart, will surely be conveyed to Japanese audiences."
Director Isao Kajitani, who was in charge of the dubbing direction, also reflected, "I felt an extraordinary aura from the intense concentration he had as he stared straight at the screen, but as the recording progressed, he relaxed in a good way and showed a different side of himself, which I think was just like Lily Pad in the movie. At times he would unleash comical bursts that exceeded our expectations, and the recording was filled with laughter."
◇Cowgirl doll Jessie takes center stage
"Toy Story" was Disney & Pixar's first feature film, with the first installment produced in 1995 and released in Japan in 1996. The story of a boy named Andy's toys coming to life and going on adventures when humans aren't looking, and the full CGI that brought toys like Woody and Buzz Lightyear to life, became a worldwide hit. The second installment was released in 1999 (2000 in Japan), the third in 2010, and the fourth in 2019. Throughout the series, actor Toshiaki Karasawa voices Woody in the Japanese version, and entertainer George Tokoro voices Buzz Lightyear.
In the latest installment, "Toy Story 5," Woody leaves Bonnie's room and works with his friends to help abandoned toys. Jessie, a cowgirl doll, takes over as the "sheriff" of Bonnie's room and leads the toys, watching over the imaginative and shy Bonnie as she grows up. Jessie struggles to make friends because the other kids are moving on from toys and are engrossed in tablets, leaving her with no one to talk to. Concerned about Bonnie, her parents present her with a state-of-the-art tablet, the "LilyPad," and Bonnie and her friends' daily lives are turned upside down.
Seeing Bonnie engrossed in the screen like other children, Jessie worries that the smile that shone brightly during playtime is fading, and she asks Woody for help. Teaming up again with Woody and Buzz, Jessie rises to the challenge of winning back Bonnie's spirit... As Jessie and the other toys begin to question their own existence, wondering, "Are toys no longer needed?", the dynamic duo of Woody and Buzz Lightyear join forces once more to confront the threat of "digital."
In the Japanese version, Jessie's voice will be provided by Yumi Kusaka, the new character Smarty Pants will be voiced by Hayato Sano Sano of "M!LK", and Forky will be voiced by Ryo Ryusei. "Toy Story 5" will be released nationwide on July 3rd.
